noun

gorge

The passage through which food is swallowed.

The bitter medicine burns his gorge as he swallows.

Etymology

The Old French word means throat. This anatomical sense keeps the passage through which swallowed food moves, rather than the later comparison with a narrow valley.

More examples

  • A piece of dry bread sticks in his gorge.
  • She drinks cool water to soothe her burning gorge.
  • The smell of spoiled meat makes his gorge rise.

Forms

gorge · gorges

Similar words

throat
The usual everyday word; gorge sounds literary or old-fashioned.
gullet
Specifically the food passage leading from throat to stomach.
esophagus
The anatomical term for the tube carrying food to the stomach.